Phlox plant named ‘Tequila Sunrise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Tequila Sunrise’, particularly distinguished by salmon and pink-colored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Tequila Sunrise’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Tequila Sunrise’. The new cultivar originated froman open pollination in 2006 in a nursery location in Haarlem, TheNetherlands between unknown male and female Phlox paniculata plants.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollinationin 2007 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the newPhlox by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, TheNetherlands since the summer of 2007, has shown that the unique featuresof the Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Salmon and pink-colored flowers;    -   2. Compact habit;    -   3. Healthy foliage; and    -   4. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is ‘Windsor’, not patented. However, inside by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the newcultivar ‘Tequila Sunrise’ differ from plants of ‘Windsor’ by havinghealthier foliage, thicker stems, and a sturdier, more compact planthabit. Additionally, ‘Tequila Sunrise’ flowers more evenly with flowersthat have a richer color than those of ‘Windsor’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Tequila Sunrise’ are similar to‘Strawberry Daiquiri’, co-pending U.S. Plant Patent Application.However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plantsof the new cultivar ‘Tequila Sunrise’ differ from plants of ‘StrawberryDaiquiri’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Tequila Sunrise’.The plant was grown for approximately 1 year in a 1.5-liter container inHaarlem, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side view of the overall growthand habit of ‘Tequila Sunrise’.

The photograph on the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of theinflorescence of ‘Tequila Sunrise’.

The photograph on the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe foliage of ‘Tequila Sunrise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Theplant history was taken in August on 1-year-old plants in 1.5 litercontainers which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperaturesbetween 14° C. and 32° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and15° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments wereused. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylightconditions.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar ‘Tequila    Sunrise’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata.        -   Male parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata.-   Plant description:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial. Overall shape: Broad inverted            triangle. High temperature tolerance: Tolerant to at least            35° C. Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to at least USDA            Zone 4.        -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 25 weeks from rooted            cutting to finish in a 1.5 liter container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, moderately            vigorous.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 50.8 cm. Width: Approximately 56.6 cm. Rate of            growth: In spring, approximately 10 cm per month.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate basal branching; pinching will            improve basal branching; flowering stems grow from base.            Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 18 flowering            stems.        -   Stem.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.            Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 34.9 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.5 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture: Glabrous, slightly glossy.            Color of young and mature stems: 200B flushed with 146B            toward apex.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per stem:            Approximately 18. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.            Durability to stress: High.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptic to broadly elliptic. Margin: Very            slightly revolute, very short and finely serrate with            approximately 30 teeth per cm. Apex: Apiculate. Base:            Obtuse. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 7.9 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            3.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: Between            137A and 141A with venation of 147A tinged with 178A to            178B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 137C to 138A            with venation of 147B to 147C tinged with 178A to 178B.            Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation            of 147A tinged with 178A to 178B. Color of lower surface of            mature foliage: 137C with venation of 147B to 147C tinged            with 178A to 178B.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Color: upper side of 178B and lower side 147B to 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing            conditions with substantially continuous blooming from            summer through late summer.        -   Lastingness of flower on the plant.—Approximately 10 days.        -   Lastingness as a cut flower.—Approximately 10 days.        -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,            self-cleaning. Fragrance: Moderate, sweet and pleasant;            typical Phlox paniculata scent. Height: Approximately            14.2 cm. Width: Approximately 12.3 cm. Quantity of opened            flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 25. Rate of flower            opening: Approximately 25% of the flowers at any stage.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect primary peduncles            with secondary peduncles at approximately a 60° angle.            Length of primary: Approximately 10.3 cm. Diameter of            primary: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of secondary:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter of secondary: Approximately            1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B to 146C            flushed with N186C to 200B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Shape: Salverform.            Aspect: Upright to outward.        -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per inflorescence:            Approximately 75. Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: Approximately            2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: Petals of N57B            with tube area of 59A to 187A; calyx N186C to 200A tinged            with 147B to 147C at base. Rate of opening: Approximately 4            days.        -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, lower 55% of each petal fused into a            narrow tube. Arrangement: Rotate. Appearance: Dull. Shape,            lobe: Spathulate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately            1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface when first            open: 52A with N66A at tube opening; tube of N79C. Color of            lower surface when first open: 55A with the tube of N80A.            Color of upper surface when fully open: 52B with N57A to            N66A at tube opening; tube of N80A. Color of lower surface            when fully open: 55B to 55C with the tube of N79C. With age            petal area fades to 51A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Campanulate. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, lower 66% fused into a narrow tube.            Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Dull. Shape:            Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Narrow apiculate. Length:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface            of immature sepals: N186C to 200A tinged with 147B to 147C            at base. Color of lower surface of immature and mature            sepals: 147B with tips flushed with N186C; 147D at base.            Color of upper surface of mature sepals: 147A to 147B with            tips flushed with N186C; 145A to 145B at base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect when directly            adjoining peduncle, others at an approximately 60° angle.            Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, basifixed. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther color: 8D. Pollen amount: Low to moderate. Pollen            color: 8B to 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower.            Pistil length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft            (3-parted). Stigma color: 150D. Style length: Approximately            1.9 cm. Style color: N77B. Ovary color: 143A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular    resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to    date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Tequila Sunrise’,substantially as herein shown and described.